Premier League Awards

     Hopefully the excitement of 2013-14 Premier League season has sunk in now and we've all had time to reflect on one of the greatest seasons the country has ever seen. Many people had their opinions on the big issues during the season, nut now it's time to settle it - it's the Total Football Premier League Awards.

Player of the Year
This was the hardest award to pick in more ways than one. Consistency, defence, attack, goals, blocks and the player I feel has all of this in his locker is Yaya Toure. I was so, so close to picking Luis Suarez for the quality of goals and turning his reputation on his head but it had to go to the City man. 20 Premier League goals from midfield is phenomenal and the range of them too - right foot, left foot, free kick, penalty, Toure has it all. Take nothing away from Suarez though as he could easily have won it, but you could play Yaya anywhere on the pitch and he would perform (Suarez could go in goal though!)

Team of the Season
The team I have chosen almost picked itself this year:

Goalkeeper: David Marshall (Cardiff City)

Defence: Seamus Coleman (Everton, RB), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal, CB), Gary Cahill (Chelsea, CB), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea, CB)

Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, CDM), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool, RM), Adam Lallana (Southampton, RM), Yaya Toure (Manchester City, CAM)

Attack: Luis Suarez (Liverpool, CF), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool, CF)

 

 

Manager of the Season

There were a few candidates for this award. Brendan Rodgers can't be praised highly enough for the work he has put into Liverpool Football Club over the past two years. Keeping hold of Suarez and regaining Champions League football are just two of a long list of highlights for him. Mark Hughes completely transformed the way that Stoke City play their football and no longer do they just lump the ball upfield. Many people tipped Hull City as the first team to go down this year, but Steve Bruce proved all the doubters wrong and lead the club to their first ever FA Cup final. But Manger of the Year has to go to Tony Pulis for the job he did at Crystal Palace. He arrived at Selhurst Park with the club rock bottom of the Premier League. Determined to keep up his record of never being relegated from the Premier League, Pulis guided the Eagles out of the bottom three by boxing day. Pulis also masterminded victories at home against Chelsea and away to Everton as well as the stunning end of season draw against Liverpool.


Flop of the Season
No surprises for this one as Manchester United scoop the award hands down. Some may say it was all David Moyes' fault, but even Ryan Giggs failed to beat Southampton and Sunderland. The players were mostly to blame for lacklustre performances against City,  Everton, West Brom and Sunderland, amongst others. They conceded 7 goals in total against their city rivals and 3 at home to Liverpool. The way the club handled the sacking of the 'The Chosen One' was particularly embarrassing with the media confirming it almost a day before the club made an official statement. The Red Devils have got some clearing up to do next year.

Villain of the Year
Again there were multiple contenders for this ward. It could have been Hull owner Assem Allam for his attempted name change to Hull Tigers. Or maybe Vincent Tan for his bust up with Malky Makay. But the award eventually went to Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew. David Meyler was collecting the ball from him, eager to reduce the score line, when Pardew leant his head into the chest of the Hull man. Luckily for him, he kept his job and escaped with a 7 game touchline ban and a £100,000 fine. The Magpies weren't ahead for long either. They picked up just three points from their next 10 games...

So what do you think, who would you pick and what would you change? Comments are welcomed below and on Twitter @TotalFootyBlogs